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"When we explored the region, Tall el-Hammam was an obvious choice, as it was five to ten times larger than the other Bronze Age cities throughout the region, even those found beyond Jordan."

The team is convinced what they have found must be Sodom as their evidence suggests the city thrived due to its location by the Jordan river and major trade routes, how Sodom is described in the Bible.

According to Mr Collins, the huge city was abandoned under mysterious circumstances at the end of the Bronze Age, possibly after an earthquake.

He said: "It became an uninhabited wasteland for over 700 years but then, after those seven centuries, it started to flourish again – as indicated by the huge iron gate that leads into the city."